BalanceJulyIssue17 - 23

F

guide

S

A

B E I NSP IRED

ST T I M E

R'

IR

TO...

Barre

What's that?
Nijinsky? Hang on
- he was a horse!

If you thought classical dancing was easy, then think
again - and try this for thighs, says Jamie Glassman
photography by JACOB K

SOMA, SPITALFIELDS

ILLUSTRATION: GEMMA CORRELL GROOMING: VICTORIA BOND JAMIE WEARS: T-SHIRT BY ADIDAS, VEST AND LEGGINGS BY F&F, LEGWARMERS BY PINEAPPLE

F

All over barre
the hurting

or those not familiar, barre takes
the warm-up moves that dancers
have been doing for decades to
strengthen and tone, modifies them a

ELLEN A N D H ELL

little for the masses (though the bar to
hold on to is still there) and turns them
into 40-50 minute workouts, with the
emphasis very much on work.

energy cardio session. I was lucky to
stumble into a cardio session taught by
a lovely Irish dancer called Ellen, who
took no prisoners.
As I struggled on, Ellen smiled
encouragingly, occasionally giving me
adjustments to make it tougher. She was
keen to tell me that barre works parts of
the body other exercise overlooks, so
not to be surprised if it hurts the next
day. And the three after that.
I thought I was being smart taking a
spot at the back of the room until it was
time for everyone to turn around and
face the rear wall.
You will be glad to know, I'm basically
a dancer now. Well, I mastered 'first
position' (that's standing with your heels
together and your feet facing outwards).
I can now squat while pointing my toes,
jump while pointing my toes and curtsy
while losing all dignity - although regular

BARRE T E N D E R
There are plenty of places to try a barre
class out in London - BARREtoned,
Barrecore and Barreworks to name but
three. There are boutique gyms offering
sessions, too. I tried a Whipped Barre
class at Ethos in Spitalfields, now known
as Soma (School of Mindbody Athletics),
which, at £20 for 40 minutes, ain't cheap.
First impression - big respect to
dancers. This is tough. Second - am
I going to feel like I rode a horse
tomorrow? (Answer, more like a bull).
Third - there are far more women here
than men. I wasn't the only guy - there
were two of us - but usually, the other
chap told me, he's on his own.

Barre can be a slow,
repetitive and strengthening
class or it can be a high-tempo, high-

readers will note that my dignity went a
long time ago. If you're not too attached
to yours, give a barre class a try. You
have nothing to lose but your thighs. B
HAVE A GO!

LEVEL
Not for the
faint hearted

Life coach

COST
£20 per
session

TIME
40-50
minutes

DON'T FIGHT
THE FEELING

CORNER

When we feel anxious, many
of us don't want to experience
that panic, so we 'battle' to calm
down or try to think or rationalise our way out
of having to feel afraid. But, as Carl Jung put it:
'What we resist, persists.' Instead, try to 'float'
with feelings of anxiety; allowing the sensations
to be there instead of fighting against them.
Some people find that labelling the feelings as
'excitement' helps cope with them better, too.
CHLOE BROTHERIDGE IS THE
FOUNDER OF CALMER-YOU.COM
AND THE AUTHOR OF
' THE ANXIETY SOLUTION'

July 2017 BALANCE

23


http://www.CALMER-YOU.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BalanceJulyIssue17

BalanceJulyIssue17 - 1
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 2
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 3
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 4
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 5
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 6
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 7
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 8
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 9
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 10
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 11
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 12
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 13
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 14
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 15
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 16
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 17
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 18
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 19
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 20
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 21
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 22
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 23
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 24
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 25
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 26
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 27
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 28
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 29
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 30
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 31
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 32
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 33
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 34
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 35
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 36
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 37
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 38
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BalanceJulyIssue17 - 42
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 43
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BalanceJulyIssue17 - 61
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BalanceJulyIssue17 - 63
BalanceJulyIssue17 - 64
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